Apparatus for making inflatable articles



Jan. 16, 1934.

T. H. WILLIAMS AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING INFLATABLE ARTICLES Filed May 4, 1931 -5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 771mm 5 H. W/L L lA/VS AND CHA PL 55 5. M0 oMk 5V I- QB ATTORNEYS 1934- T. H. WILLIAMS r-:r AL 1,943,996

APPARATUS FOR MAKING INFLATABLE ARTICLES Filed May 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHARLES S. MOO/WY By 61W ATTO RN EYS Jan. 16, 1934. T. H. WILLIAMS ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING INFLATABLE ARTICLES Filed May 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS INVENTORS Two/v43 I VI'LL/AM-S (7/4/9455 .5. Mao/1r.

1934- T. H. WILLIAMS ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING INFLATABLE ARTICLES Filed May 4, 1931 5 heets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 77/0m15 ML; 1AM

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| all'vl""la"dul CHARLES .S Moozvy 62 93 mow- ATTO RN EYS Jan. 16, 1934. T. H. WILLIAMS ET AL 1,943,996

APPARATUS FOR MAKING INFLATABLE ARTICLES Filed May 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 70 W I I v NNNNNNN R5 771oMAs H. MAL/4M5 AND CHA RLES .5. Moo/w.

I I a 9 W 6/ if ATTORNEYS,

Patented Jan. 16, 1934 i r g UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE Y APPARATUS FOR MAKING, INFLATABLE ARTICLES Thomas Hpwilliams, Akron, Ohio, and Charles S. Moomy, Carlisle, Pa., assignors to National Rubber Machinery Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 4, 1931. Serial No. 534,836

Claims (C1. 18-19) t This invention relates to improved apparatus point at the front. The top of the platen is for making inflatable articles, and more especially formed with aconcentric annular recess 12,, in itrelates to apparatus for molding and vulcanizthe bottom of which is mounted an annular dising hollow, inflatable rubber articles, such as tensible tube 13, and res p d u e. is 5 inner tubes for pneumatic tire casings. an annular metal plate 14 adapted to be lifted Q The manufacture of molded inner tubes rep inflation of t t b pl Tings quiresthat heated fluid be injected into .the tube 15 inset sp t v y into the inner and Outer todistend the same against the mold wall during p p Walls Of the recess 12 determinately vulcanization, and requires that the valve stem imit the eleva ion to which the plate 14 can be 1c of the tube, through which the heated fluid is l t A pl i y of r d lly disposed h 65 delivered into the tube, be securely held in po- H615 Spacer members are m n up sition so as not to be ioreed against the tube t pp a f t p t and resting up wall by the pressure of the fluid within the tube. S d ha e s a annular h a -i a It is to the improvement of means for supporting member 13 comprising a heavy Central Structure 15 the valve stem, and for delivering heated fluid 0f asbestos Similar material O low thermal thereto, that this invention chiefly is directed. du t v y av t respective a s v d The chief objects of the invention are to prowith sheet metal to resist Wea T e upp r a e vide, in an inner tube vulcanizer, simple and 0f the C mP t ring 18 normally is flush with quickly operated mechanism for engaging and the top of the platen 11.

20 supporting a valve stem; and to provide mecha- Seated p the platen 11 is the b t O a f 9 nisrn having a wide range or" adjustability for of an annu -P mold, Said mold section connecting a fluid pressure line to the valve stem. being centra y DOSitiOned thereon by a plurality Other objects will be manifest as the speeifica- 0f ups u 0 0 0n t p at n t p that tion proceeds. engage the inner peripheral wall of the mold Of the accompanying drawings, section, yet permit axial movement of the latter Figure 1 is a vertical section through an inner u d the impetus 0f h eXpanSible ube 13. tube vulcanizer of the unit or watchcase', type dsecllfed t0 the p a e the real high embodying the invention in its preferred form, sid thereof i a p of bracket arms, h a and the work therein; the arm 21, Figure 1, and journaled in the upper Figure 2 is a detail sectional view, on a larger ends of said arms is a pivot pin 22 that has a scale, of part of the apparatus shown in Figure Squ Cent-1'51 Portion between Said 11 1, comprising the improved features thereof; o n d up the q a lOOItiOII of tha p v p Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan of the l- 22, so as to be movable relatively thereof, is an canirier viewed parallel to the axis thereof, and upper plat Spider 3, t0 the under side of 35 the work therein, in the region of the improved which is secured the upper mold section 24 of mechanism, the cover of the vulcanizer being rethe annular two-part mold. The spider 23 has a moved; pair of rearwardly extending arms, such as the Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figarm 25, Figure l, which are connected to the ure 2; outer endof the piston rod 26 of a fluid pressure 40 Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figcylinder 27, the latter being pivotally mounted at ure 9; 28 between the lower ends of the bracket arms Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig- 21. The fluid pressure cylinder 2'7is adapted to ure 2; i raise and lower the spider 23 to open and close Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figthe mold. The spider is adapted to be locked 4,5 ure 6; in its lowered, mold-closing position, by means Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 6 show of an axial, rotatable, locking post 29 that proing an alternative arrangement of mechanism jects upwardly throughthe mold sections atthe for connecting fluid conductor pipes to straight axis thereof and has its upper end portion formed valve stems; and a r with a plurality of spaced-apart lugs 30, 30 adapt- 50 Figure 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Figed to interlock with a complemental series of ure 8. V lugs31, 31 extendingdownwardly from the spider Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, 10 is a 23. t pedestal support and 11 is a table or platen fixedly v The mold sections 19, 24 preferably are steam mounted upon the top thereof, said platenprefjacketed as shown, for vulcanizing an article 55 erably being inclined as shown with its lowest confined in an annular molding cavity 33with- M in the recess in the mold. The parting plane of the mold is above the central plane of the molding cavity 33 at the inner periphery thereof, and below said central plane at the outer periphery of said cavity, the arrangement providing a low, inner peripheral wall 19 above the central plane of the cavity in the lower mold section 19 which wall provides the desirable button efiect that facilitates the mounting of an unvulcanized tube in said lower molding cavity. The molding cavity 33, however, is divided diametrically by the said parting plane.

The work to be molded and vulcanized in the apparatus consists of an annular rubber tube 35, and a valve stem is mounted in a suitable aperture formed in the inner peripheral wall thereof, said valve stem being shown as an angle stem 36 in Figures 1-7 of the drawings and as a straight stem 37 in Figures 8-9 of the drawings.

Formed in the inner peripheral wall of the lower mold section 19, at the rear thereof, is a re-entrant or recess 38 that extends from adjacent the top of the wall 19 to the bottom of the mold section. At the central plane of the molding cavity 33, a tapered aperture 39 extends through the wall of the mold section 19 and opens into the recess 38, and an apertured disc 40 is removably mounted in axial alignment with the aperg ture 39 in the wall or" the cavity 33, the exposed face of the disc 40 being flush with the surface of the said cavity. The arrangement is such that a valve stem 36 may be passed through the aperture of the disc 40 and suitably positioned with- 38, the threaded portion 36 at the base of the valve stem fitting nicely within the aperture in said disc. The disc 40 is removable to permit replacing with other discs having different size apertures to accommodate respective valve stems having difierent size threaded pora as to embrace said valve stem. 60

tions at their bases.

In order that the valve stem 36 will be fixedly positioned during the vulcanizing operation, manually operated means is provided for gripping and holding said stern. To this end an inwardly projecting lug 41 is formed on the inner periphery of the lower mold section 19, laterally of the recess 38 therein, and adjustably mounted upon said lug, by bolts 42, 42, is an angular bracket 43 that has an inclined offset portion 43 positioned in front of the recess 35, somewhat above the central plane of the mold. Pivotally mounted at 45 upon the offset portion 43 of the bracket 43 is a pair of arcuate jaws 46, 46 that extend into the recess 38 and have their free ends positioned 55' within the tapered aperture 39, being adapted to engage the opposite sides of the threaded portion 36 of a valve stem 36 therein. Preferably the free ends of the jaws are arcuately formed so The adjustability of the bracket 43 permits adjustment of the jaws 46 radially of the mold.

The intermediate portions of the jaws 46 are somewhat spaced apart from each other as is most clearly shown in Figure 3, and swiveled in said intermediate portions, on parallel axes, are respective cylindrical nuts 47, 47 that are engaged by the respective threaded portions of a right and left hand screw 48, the lateral walls of the jaws being suitably apertured at 49, 49 (Figure 4) to permit the passage of the screw therethrough. An operating lever 50 is clamped to the central portion of the screw 48, between the jaws 46. The arrangement is such that simple movement of the operating lever 50 opens or closes the free ends of the jaws 46. One end of the screw 48 is slotted at 51 to permit the screw to be rotated by means of a screw driver, independently of the lever 50, upon occasion, such as the initial adjusting of the jaws.

For connecting the valve stem 36 with a source of vulcanizing fluid such as steam, a nozzle member 55 is yieldingly mounted within the recess 38 in position to engage the end of the valve stem therein, said nozzle member being formed on its upper side at one end with a socket 56 in which the end of the valve stem seats, and having a pin 57 so mounted in said socket as to lift the valve 58 in the valve stem off its seat so as to open the valve whenever the stem is engaged by the nozzle. The pin 57 is mounted centrally of an axial passage 59 in the nozzle,which passage communicates with a pair of passages 60, 60 which diverge therefrom and terminate on opposite sides of the nozzle member. One of the passages 60 has connection with a flexible fluid conducting pipe 61 through which heated fluid is conducted to or from the valve stem 36, the other passage being closed with a threaded plug 62. The arrangement permits the flexible pipe 61 to be connected to the side of the nozzle 55 that is most accessible.

The other end portion of the nozzle member 55 is bifurcated or forked, and straddles a downwardly projecting lug 63 formed on a nozzle holder 64, the nozzle being pivotally connected to the lug 63 at 65. The nozzle holder 64 also is formed with an apertured ear 66 that projects over the nozzle member, and a stud 67 that is pivoted at 63 in the forked portion of the nozzle 55 extends upwardly through the aperture in the car 66 and has its free end provided with a washer 69 and nut 70, there being a compression spring 71 mounted upon the stud between the ear 66 and the Washer 69. The arrangement is such that with the holder 64 determinately positioned, the spring 71 yieldingly urges the free end of the nozzle 55 upwardly against the end of the valve stem 36.

The holder 64 is mounted at 75 for angular adjustment upon one end of a link 76, the other end of which is similarly connected at 77 to one end of a second link 73, the other end of the latter being similarly connected at 79 to a bracket 36 that is adjustably swiveled at 80 upon a projecting lug 32 formed on the inner peripheral wall 3 ous lengths. An alternative nozzle holder is substituted when the nozzle has to engage straight valve stems, such as the valve stem 37.

In the operation of the apparatus, when the mold is open the upper mold section 24 is in raised position (not shown), and the operating lever 50 of the valve stem clamp is in the alternative position shown in broken lines in Figure 2. This permits an unvulcanized inner tube 35 to be mounted in the molding cavity of the lower mold section 19 by buttoning the inner periphery of said mold cavity, the valve stem 36 of the inner tube being passed through the aperture in the disc 40 and positioned within the recess 38 in the lower mold section as shown, with its free end seated in the socket 56 of the it over the wall 19 on a lit IAL'

nozzle 55, which nozzle is yieldingly urged against the valve stem by the spring 71. The clamping lever 50 is then thrown to the position shown in full lines in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to cause the jaws 46 firmly to engage the threaded portion 36 of the valve stem to hold the latter in fixed position, and the fluid pressure cylinder 27 is exhausted to lower the upper mold section 24 into place upon the lower mold section.

After the mold sections are locked together by angular movement of the locking post 29, heated vulcanizing fluid is admitted to the tube 35 through the valve stem 36, and vulcanization of the tube is effected in the usual or preferred manner. After the work is vulcanized the vulcanizing fluid in the interior thereof is vented or removed through the valve stem 36, the valve 58 of which is held open by the pin 57 of the nozzle 55. The operations of mounting the work are reversed to remove it from the apparatus.

In mounting the work in the apparatus, the head of the valve stem 36, which head is disposed interiorly of the tube 35 is drawn lightly into contact with the inner wall of the tube as shown. This arrangement is not essential, however, and the apparatus may be so constructed as to support the valve stem in a position that holds its head in spaced relation to the inner wall of the tube.

Attention is now directed to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings showing the arrangement of the nozzle 55 and its supporting structure when the work is provided with a straight valve stem 3'), said supporting structure and nozzle being identical with the previously described parts except for a slightly different nozzle holder 64 The nozzle holder 64 is formed with a laterally projecting lug 6.? that is pivotally connected to the nozzle 55 at 65, and also is formed with an upwardly extending apertured ear 66 through the aperture of which extends the stud 6'7 that is pivotally connected to the nozzle 55 at 68. A compression spring 76 is mounted upon the stud 67 between the ear 66 and a washer 69 that is mounted upon the stud adjacent the nozzle 55. A nut '70 is mounted upon the stud 6'7 on the opposite side of the ear 65 from the spring 76% The arrangement is such that the spring 76 normally urges the nozzle 55 in the direction of the valve stem 37 so as yieldingly to engage the end thereof.

The arcuate contour of the gripper jaws 46 permits them to grip the radially disposed portion of an angle or straight valve stem, yet permits the supporting structure for the jaws to be so positioned as not to obstruct the nozzle mechanism when the latter is arranged to engage straight valve stems.

The apparatus may be variously modified within the scope of the appended claims, which are not limited wholly to the specific construction shown and described.

What is claimed is:-

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mold having a cavity to receive the article and an aperture through its wall to accommodate a valve stem of the article, a pair of gripper jaws adapted to engage said valve stem exteriorly of the mold, a support upon which the gripper jaws are pivotally mounted, and a right and left hand screw operating the gripper jaws in unison.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the support for the gripper jaws is adjustable to permit the gripper jaws to be adjusted radially with relation to the mold.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the support for the gripper jaws is inclined with relation to the plane of the work, and the gripper jaws are arcuately formed so that. their work-engaging end portions are parallel to the plane of the work.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mold formed with a cavity for receiving the work and having an aperture through its wall to accommodate a valve stem of the work, said mold having its wall recessed about said aperture, a pair of pivotally mounted, arcuate gripper jaws having their free ends positioned in said recess and adapted to grip said valve stem exteriorly of the mold, an adjustable support upon which said gripper jaws are pivotally mounted, said support being inclined with relation to the plane of the work, and a right and left hand screw for operating the gripper jaws.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mold having a cavity for an article and an aperture to receive a valve stem thereof, means for rigidly holding the valve stem in determinate position, a nozzle adapted to engage the outer end of the valve stem, and an articulated support for said nozzle.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including yielding means for urging the nozzle into engagement with the valve stem.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mold for an article, said mold being formed with an aperture to admit a valve stem of the article to the exterior of the mold, a nozzle adapted to direct fluid into said valve stem, and a rigid support for said nozzle having universal adjustability for determinately positioning of said nozzle.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mold for an article, said mold being formed with an aperture to admit a valve stem of the article to the exterior of the mold, a nozzle for conducting fluid to said valve stem, and an articulated support for said nozzle adjustably swivelled upon the mold.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 including yielding means for urging the nozzle into engagement with the valve stem.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mold for an article, said mold being formed with an aperture to admit a valve stem of the article to the exterior of the mold, a nozzle adapted to direct fluid into said valve stem, a rigid support for said nozzle having universal adjustability for normally fixedly positioning said nozzle with relation to the mold, said nozzle being pivoted on said support, and yielding means normally urging said nozzle to determinate position with relation to said support.

THOMAS H. WILLIAMS. CHAS. S. MOOMY. 

